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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022142

Officials conclude discussions on three key items on Apec agenda

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Three key priorities were discussed during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Officials focused on facilitating free and open trade and investment, reconnecting the region, and promoting a balanced, inclusive and sustainable economic growth based on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model.

Regarding opening up to all trade and investment opportunities, Apec continued to make headway on the revived discussions for a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) in the post-Covid-19 context.

“Apec experts have developed a multi-year work plan to establish a long-term framework for the FTAAP agenda,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The aim is to build capacity for Apec economies to ensure that they are better prepared for any future pandemic and narrow the development gap.”

On reconnecting the region, Apec senior officials took stock of tangible achievements of the Safe Passage Taskforce and endorsed its recommendations on how Apec’s safe passage work should be carried forward, especially to continue building the region’s resilience against future disruptions.

“In addition, the meeting endorsed the report on the implementation of the ‘Apec Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap and Apec Economic Policy Report 2022 on Structural Reform’ and ‘Green Recovery from Economic Shocks’, which will help to enhance digital and physical connectivity in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said.

On promoting a balanced, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, Apec senior officials noted the final draft of “Bangkok Goals on BCG Economy”, which will be submitted for leaders’ endorsement on Saturday.

“The Bangkok Goals will serve as a roadmap to advance Apec’s sustainability and inclusion objectives in a more holistic and integrating manner,” the Foreign Ministry said.

As a key driving force of the Apec process, the senior officials wrapped up their year-long preparations to move on to the next stage where Apec ministers and economic leaders will endorse key outcomes and shape the direction for our region going forward.

Related stories:

• Govt House decorated as PM set to hold talks with world leaders
• Paetongtarn: Thais expect benefits from Apec Summit as in 2003
• Prayut to cap week of bilateral Apec meets with Xi, Harris talks

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022140

Govt House decorated as PM set to hold talks with world leaders

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Government House in Bangkok’s Dusit district has been decorated with lights, national flags and colourful flowers to welcome world leaders and guests who will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit this week.

The decorations will be changed according to meetings with each world leader and guest visiting Government House for discussions on the sidelines of the summit, the Thai Khu Fah Facebook page said on Wednesday.

Today, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will host talks and exchange a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at 4.15pm.

After talks, Prayut will host a dinner for Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse at 6pm.

The other key meetings at Government House are:

– Thursday (noon): Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron followed by lunch.

In the evening, PM Prayut will also host discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

– Friday (evening): Talks and exchanging of a MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud followed by dinner.

– Saturday (noon): Discussions and exchanging of a MoU with Chinese President Xi Jinping followed by lunch.

In the evening, Prayut will also host US Vice President Kamala Harris for talks.

The Apec Economic Leaders’ Week began in Bangkok on November 14 and ends on November 19.

Related stories:

• Paetongtarn: Thais expect benefits from Apec Summit as in 2003
• Don’t stay overnight, Chadchart tells anti-government protesters at rally ground
• PM places emphasis on role of science and technology in pubic health

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022136

Don’t stay overnight, Chadchart tells anti-government protesters at rally ground

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Wednesday that anti-government groups will not be allowed to stay overnight at the rally ground in front of City Hall.

Chadchart said he has assigned two of his advisers, Nipat Thonglek and Adit Ngamjitsuksri, to monitor law and order at the Lan Khon Muang rally ground.

Two anti-government groups, “Thalufah” and “Ratsadon”, have received the green light from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to organise a rally from Wednesday to Friday at Lan Khon Muang, which is the open ground opposite City Hall in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.

Chadchart said police have coordinated with the BMA to request the use of Lan Khon Muang for the rally so that the demonstrators would stay off Bangkok roads and avoid affecting traffic flow during the summit.

Chadchart said the BMA has deployed its officials to monitor the rally site and the administration has been in close touch with other government agencies to keep security at the rally site.

“The demonstrators must comply with the agreement with the authorities by not staying overnight,” Chadchart said.

“Personally, I think the Lan Khon Muang provides a ground for the people to express their views in accordance with the democratic principle.”

He said if demonstrators attempt to move from the ground, the security officials must take action as the BMA is only providing the rally site.

“So far, rallies at Lan Khon Muang have been held peacefully because the organisers of the rallies and the authorities treat each other with due respect. They have agreed to stay at the ground. But the BMA cannot take responsibility for consequences if they step out of the ground. It will be the duty of the security agencies and police,” Chadchart said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022134

Egat, Alternative Energy Dept to develop refrigerator that runs on solar energy

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) signed an agreement with the Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department (DEDE) in a cool project to develop a much needed refrigerator that can be powered by solar energy.

Tawatchai Sumranwanich, Egat’s assistant governor of power plant planning, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with DEDE deputy director-general Ruangdet Panduang for the Egat Cooling Innovation Fund project.

Tawatchai said the demonstration project will study, design and create a cooling system using solar energy, with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant to preserve agricultural crops including vegetables, fruit, raw cow milk and medicines.

The objective is to fight the expiration problem of agricultural crops in rural areas where there’s no electricity and to reduce costs in preserving vegetables and products.

Each refrigerator could reduce electricity bills by up to 11,000 baht per year and cut carbon emissions by around 1,600 kilogrammes each year, according to the organisations.

The DEDE plans to rope in the Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation of farms and community enterprises for participation in the project.

And it won’t end with a refrigerator: the system is expected to be further developed to apply to air conditioners in time to come.

Related stories

• New fabric for student uniforms eliminates need for ironing, saves millions of baht in electricity costs
• Egat, Egco join hands to build 5MW hydrogen fuel power plant, targeting reduction of CO2 emissions
• Cabinet lets Egat borrow THB85 billion to boost liquidity

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022132

PM places emphasis on role of science and technology in pubic health

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Thailand is paying close attention to science and technology development to ensure safety of the people in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in public health, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) University Leaders’ Forum: 2022” at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

The forum is being organised in parallel with Apec Economic Leaders Week from November 14-19.

He said this forum is an opportunity for educational networks worldwide to cooperate and share their experiences to be ready for upcoming challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

Apart from promoting cooperation under the theme “Open. Connect. Balance.” and “Bangkok Goals on Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy”, he said Thailand is also paying attention to science and technology development to ensure safety among people in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in public health.

“Even though we had overcome the Covid-19 crisis, knowledge on medicine and public health should be developed further to be ready for dealing with emerging diseases,” he said.

“Most importantly, research should be utilised for maximum benefits to the people.”

Prayut said the education sector is the main force in eliminating false information, propaganda and fake news which spreads throughout society.

He praised Chulalongkorn University and education-related agencies for their efforts to enable Thailand overcome the Covid-19 crisis, such as the medical support robot CU-RoboCovid, Chula Covid-19 Strip Test and Baiya Covid-19 vaccine.

He added that the government is paying attention to knowledge exchange with many countries in public health, technology, research and digital innovation.

“The Thai government has promoted the development of medicine and public health in Thailand and overseas, along with boosting personnel’s potential,” he said.

He expressed hope that this forum would promote cooperation to be ready for various challenges, which would lead to balanced and sustainable management in the Asia-Pacific region.

Related stories:

• Isoc sets up war room to monitor security during Apec summit
• Prawit instructs govt agencies to help police keep law and order during Apec Summit
• Key Apec meetings, pacts expected to boost Thai economic growth: Foreign Ministry

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022130

Isoc sets up war room to monitor security during Apec summit

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has set up a war room in parallel with the government’s operations command to monitor the security situation during the Apec Summit this week.

Isoc secretary-general General Ukrit Boontanon set up the special war room for holding daily meetings three times a day from Monday to Saturday.

During the meeting on Wednesday morning, Ukrit was informed by Isoc offices around the country that no security threat had been detected so far.

Ukrit instructed Isoc offices to cooperate with other government agencies in monitoring the situation for any untoward incident during the summit.

The offices were also instructed to lend full support to the Royal Thai Police and Interior Ministry in keeping tight security.

Ukrit said Isoc is also urging the public to alert it if they detect any suspicious incident by calling hotline 1374 or contacting the command via its Line account @1374 any time of the day or night.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/thailand/general/40022131

Who will attend Apec summit this week

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) is an inter-governmental forum that promotes free trade across the Asia-Pacific region. Apec consists of 21 member economies.

Here are the leaders of these  ” economies ” that will participate in the annual Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok November 18–19, 2022

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Chile President Gabriel Boric
People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping
Hong Kong,China Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu
Indonesia President Joko Widodo
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Republic of Korea Prime Minister Han Duck-soo
Malaysia Cabinet secretary-general Mohamad Zuki Ali
Mexico Ambassador to Thailand Bernardo Cordova Tello
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape
Peru Vice President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra
Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr
Russia Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Chinese Taipei Special Representative of President Morris Chang
Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
United States Vice President Kamala Harris
Viet Nam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc

special guests

France President Emmanuel Macron
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022129

Amnesty seeks Apec discussion on bloody crackdown in Myanmar

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Amnesty International Thailand called for an end to the bloody crackdown in Myanmar in a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as head of the country hosting the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.

On Wednesday, Amnesty submitted the petition with a list of signatures, urging Prayut, via his representative Nalinee Mahakhun, and the government to play a crucial role in facilitating discussions with Apec member countries to end the bloody crackdown in Myanmar and stand in solidarity with its people.

Amnesty Thailand director Piyanut Kotsan said that almost two years after the military coup, more than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced in Myanmar, while 12,839 are detained in inhumane conditions. In addition, at least 69 are facing the death penalty while four have already been executed.

This also affects 7.8 million children who have left school, Amnesty noted, adding that the Myanmar military has killed hundreds of protesters and civilians, while thousands have died from armed conflict across the country after the arbitrary coup.

The group also submitted 2,129 signatures of people who signed an online petition through Change.org, urging Prayut and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to adhere to pledges in ending the bloody crackdown in the neighbouring country.

Amnesty called on the Thai government to play a key role in initiating a discussion to end the bloody oppression by the military in Myanmar.

The petition also urged the government to:

– Deploy all possible means to enable an environment for humanitarian assistant across the border.

– Collaborate with Asean states and dialogue partners as well as international organisations such as UN agencies to resolve human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

– Accept asylum seekers and guarantee access to humanitarian aid in Thailand. Refrain from deporting or returning Myanmar asylum seekers who have escaped a well-founded fear of persecution. Provide protection for the asylum seekers and halt any prosecution against them during their stay in Thailand.

– Mandate business enterprises and state enterprises to comply with the principles of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, signed by Thailand, which instructs companies not to be affiliated to or be involved with the Myanmar military or its related bodies as human rights violators.

On Wednesday morning Amnesty Thailand members also participated in a short march from Luk Luang Road to the headquarters of the United Nations in Thailand in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district while banging trays with utensils in a demonstration for Myanmar people. The activity was closely monitored by police officers.

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Amnesty International documents rights violations by Russia in Ukraine invasion

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022128

Prawit instructs govt agencies to help police keep law and order during Apec Summit

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan instructed 30 government agencies to help police keep law and order during the Apec Summit this week.

Prawit, who heads the special operations command for security at the summit, relayed his order via Police Commissioner-General Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, deputy chief of the command, by assigning Damrongsak to hold a meeting of the command on Wednesday.

The Royal Thai Police and 30 other government agencies attended the meeting – being held on a daily basis – to review their operation plans for keeping security at the summit.

Damrongsak quoted Prawit as ordering the agencies to step up security, especially at hotels where the Apec leaders and delegates will stay.

Damrongsak also quoted Prawit as asking the agencies to cooperate with police and not to lower their guard.

After the meeting, Damrongsak told police that the traffic situation around the meeting venue of Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre was light because special government holidays begin on Wednesday.

He said the Bangkok traffic police order closing certain roads around the summit venue from Wednesday to Saturday was published in the Royal Gazette on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has also prohibited demonstrations within a 50-metre radius of Government House from 6am on Wednesday to 6am on Sunday.

Damrongsak said the Nang Loeng police station was informed on Monday that a group of protesters would rally in front of the Agriculture Ministry from Tuesday to the end of this month and the station had told the demonstrators not to move out of the rally site.

The National Police chief added that Apec leaders started arriving on Wednesday, so the command and government agencies would do their best in providing them with protection.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022127

Heavy rains cause severe flooding and damage in Phuket

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Several areas in Phuket suffered extensive damage from floods following heavy rains on Tuesday.

Several hours of ceaseless rains until midnight on Tuesday caused overflows in several areas, including Muang Phuket and Kathu districts.

Many roads in Patong Municipality in Kathu district were flooded while small cars in Chalong and Wichit subdistricts in Muang Phuket district could not be used.

In Phuket’s business district, the water level was not high but the officials had to temporarily close roads to prevent the water from flowing into nearby houses.

Phuket City Municipality has monitored the situation closely and officials were sent to drain water into the sea. Arrangements were already in place after severe flooding on October 16.

On Wednesday morning, officials found more cracks on the Kathu – Patong road, including blockage caused by a landslide. Repair work, however, was delayed due to the rain.

All vehicles could move down from Patong to Kathu, but only motorcycles were allowed to travel from Kathu to Patong.

Related stories

• Phuket’s Patong-Kathu highway reopens to 4-wheel vehicles after landslide
• Autopsy reveals plastic cup inside Phuket’s dead Bruda whale
• Russian tourists touch down in Phuket on first direct flight